2022 European heatwaves
A temperature anomaly map in Europe for July | |
| Type | Heatwave |
|---|---|
| Areas | |
| Start date | 10 June 2022 |
| End date | 12 September 2022 |
| Peak temp. | 47.0 °C (116.6 °F), recorded at Pinhão, Portugal on 14 July 2022 |
| Losses | |
| Deaths | ~20,000 (reported) ~70,000 (estimated) |
| Damages | €40 billion (US$40.2 billion) |
Between June and September 2022, large parts of Europe were affected by persistent heatwaves which killed tens of thousands and caused billions of euros in damage. They were the deadliest meteorological event of the year and caused thousands of wildfires, as well as widespread droughts across much of the continent.
The first heatwave, which came in June, led to temperatures of 40–43 °C (104–109 °F), with most severe temperature anomalies in France, where several records were broken. A second more severe heatwave occurred in mid-July, extending north to the United Kingdom, where temperatures surpassing 40 °C (104 °F) were recorded for the first time. A third heatwave began in August, with parts of France and Spain expected to reach temperatures as high as 38 °C (100 °F). Although temperatures in most places subsided in August, a smaller heatwave impacted France on 12 September, with temperatures reaching 40 °C (104 °F) once again.
In late 2023, a study published by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health estimated that there were over 70,000 heat-related deaths across Europe during the heatwave, a significant increase from earlier estimates.